TIFF: THE VIGIL Written and Directed by Keith Thomas

Steeped in ancient Jewish lore and demonology, THE VIGIL is supernatural horror film set over the course of a single evening in Brooklyn’s Hasidic Borough Park neighborhood. Low on funds and having recently left his insular religious community, Yakov reluctantly accepts an offer from his former rabbi and confidante to take on the responsibility of an overnight “shomer,” fulfilling the Jewish practice of watching over the body of a deceased community member. Shortly after arriving at the recently departed’s dilapidated house to sit the vigil, Yakov begins to realize that something is very, very wrong.

Director: Keith Thomas
Screenwriter: Keith Thomas
Cast: Dave Davis, Malky Goldman, Menashe Lustig, Lynn Cohen, Fred Melamed
Producers: Raphael Margules, J.D. Lifshitz, Adam Margules
Director of Photography: Zach Kuperstein
Editor: Brett W. Bachman
Running Time: 88 mins.
Country: USA
Language: English, Yiddish
Section: Midnight Madness